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(No Model,) 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 M. M. SO'UDERS. AUTOMATIC RAILWAY ALARM ANDSIGNAL.

No. 421,983. Patented Feb. 25, 1890.

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AUTOMATIC RAILWAY ALARM AND SIGNAL.

Patented Feb 25, 1890.

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(No Model.) 3' Sheets-Sheet :a.

v M. M. SOUDERS. AUTOMATIC RAILWAY ALARM AND SIGNAL.

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UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

MILTON MONROE SOUDERS, OF LITIZ, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR OF FORTY- FIVEONE-HUNDREDTHS TO JOHN L. KIEHL AND PETER G. RINGER, BOTH or SAME PLACE.

AUTOMATIC RAILWAY ALARM AND SIGNAL.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 421,983, dated February25, 1890.

Application filed May 11, 1889. Serial No. 310,468. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern: Be it known that I, MILTON MONROE SOU-DE'Rs, a citizen of the United States, residing in Litiz, in the countyof Lancaster and State of Pennsylvania, have invented certainImprovements in Automatic Railway Alarms and Signals, of which thefollowing is a specification.

This invention relates to improvements in that class of railway alarmsand signals operated by electric apparatus; and my object is toautomatically close a circuit, whereby an alarm is sounded and a signaldisplayed by the action of an attachment to one of the wheels or axlesof thelocomotive-tender, and again open the circuit to discontinue thealarm and withdraw the signal.

The invention can be used wherever sig nals are to be sounded orshown-at a roadcrossing, signal-tower, or station-and the parts can bemade to act separately or together.

This invention consists in the construction and combination of parts, ashereinafter fully set forth in the description and pointed out in theclaims.

In the accompanying drawings, which form a part of this specification,Figure 1 is a side elevation of my inventiomthe rail hiding the 0cut-off and the passage for the wires and the box containing the alarmand signal being shown in section. Fig. 2 is a plan view of a section oftrack, showing the treadles in place and the passage for the wires andthe box 3 5 containing the alarm and signal with their tops removed, thegong being also removed. Fig. 3 is a side elevation of the cut-ofidevice and the treadle which operates it. Fig. 4. is a side elevation ofthe treadle the depression of which acts to prevent the closing of the.

circuit and the mechanism through which it acts. Fig. 5 is a sideelevation of the treadle, with its immediate connections, which throwsthe exposed signal out of view. Fig. 6 is a transverse vertical sectionon the line :0 w of Fig. 2, showing the location and arrangement ofparts by which the cutoff is prevented from closing the circuit in theirnormal positions. Fig. 7 is a similar view of the same on the line 00 90showing the sliding pressure block in position when Withdrawn to preventthe closing of the circuit on the right and the compression of thesprings and the position of other parts of the treadle on the left. Fig.8 is a top view of the cut-oif mechanism, the case being in section andthe pressure-block withdrawn to prevent the closing of the circuit. Fig.9 is an enlarged side view of the cut-off mechanism, the springssupporting the treadle being removed from the box. Figs. 10 and 11 areviews of one of the conductors and the stop link, respectively, in thecut-off. Fig. 12 is a side View of one of the treadles and a bell-crank,which can be employed in place of those shown in the other figures.Figs. 13 and 14 are respectively a top and side View of a portion of thekey-1e ver, having its connections arranged somewhat differently fromthat in Fig. 9. Fig. 15 is a sectional end view of the treadle-boxopposite the signal, showing the lever and the springs in their normalposition. Fig. 16 is a rear view of the lever for holding the signal inthe box out of view, with its electrical connections, showing the signalheld in the box, the latter being in section. Fig. 17 is a similar view,but showing the signal displayed. Fig. 18 is a side View of a modifiedform of the lever used under the treadle opposite the signal-tower. Fig.19 is a vertical sect-ion through the line y y, Fig. 2, showing theconnection between the treadle opposite the signal with the signal andthe mechanism in the alarm box or tower. Fig. 20 is a top view of amodified form of the connection of the pressureblock and the rodoperating it horizontally. Fig. 21 is a side View of the lever shown inFig. 15, the treadle being depressed. Fig. 22 is an enlarged view of apart of the connecting-rod 9, Fig. 19. Fig. 23 is a side view of themodified form of the connection of the pressure-block and the rodoperating it horizontally. Fig. 2a is a View showing the manner in whichthe treadles are actuated, and also the modified form of connectingnodbetween the pressure-block and the treadle by which it is movedhorizontally. Fig. 25 is a top view of the wires and magnets whenarranged to operate both the gong and the signal-board from one battery.

Similar letters indicate like parts throughout the several views.

In the drawings, A represents a section of railway-track.

B is a signal-tower having a gong I) placed therein, the hammer Z) ofwhich is actuated by an electric current passing through the armatureand magnets 11*, connected with the. battery G on one side of the towerby the linel and with the cut-off D by the line 1.

' horizontally through an opening in the back In addition to the gong,there 'is a signalboard E, pivoted in the shaft B of the tower, which,when not displayed, is held in a Vertical position by the levencatch F,the heel f Of Which engages a rib e on an edge of the upper arm of thesignaleboard. The catch F has an elbow f which extends under a short arma, as is shown in Figs. 2, 17, and 19, that is actuated by an electriccurrent passing through the armature and magnets a connected with thebattery G, located near battery 0, by the line 2, and with the cut-offby th l e At a suitable distance from the tower B and in the directionfrom which the signal is to be given there is a box 11, located insideof; and below the rail 0, wherein is placed the cut-off mechanism foropening and closing the circuit of the wires 1' and 2. The mechanismregulating the cut-off of the wire 1 consists of clock-works I, thenumber and size of the wheels of which are regulated as may be desired.To the stem of the clockworks is fastened a key-lever K, with which isconnected the ground-wire d. When the lever is depressed, as will beexplained, it is received between the jaws g of the conductor h, to thebase whereof wire 1 is secured. lVhen forced down, the top of thekey-lever sinks as low as the top of the jaws g. The rapidity of themovement of the key. lever is regulated by the clock-work, and as longas any part of its surface is pressed by the jaws g the circuit is keptup and the gong continues to sound.

By the side of the conductor 7i there is a similar conductor 2', locatedin the box H, to the base of which the wire 2 is connected. Outside ofthe point of the key-lever, which engages with the jaws g of theconductor h, there is a conductor 7t, rigidly connected with butinsulated from said keylever. A groundwire Z is secured to. theconductor is, and when the key-lever is depressed so as to be broughtinto engagement with the jaws g of p the conductor h the conductor klikewise enbetween the. wire '2 and the ground-wire Z,

ter.

. striking the treadleQ.

in a frame placed a short distance from the rail 0, and divided into twoparts atthe cen- Each part is pivoted at the outer end, and the centerof one 19 rests upon a crossbar m, supported by two springs a, restingupon the bottom of the box H and coiled about two guide-posts O. Thecenters of the parts are connected by a knuckle or link joint, asupporting-arm 7 extending from the part 19 beneath the part g. Beneaththe inner end of the part 9 there is a pressureblock M, that rests uponthe vibrating end of the key-lever K and presses it down when the centerof the treadle is depressed.

The pressure-block is constructed to slide of the box H, and has anelastic rod N yieldingly fastened to the outer end. This rod passesacross the track and is pivotally sedepressed while the pressure-blockis so withdrawn it would have no effect in closing the circuits. Thesetreadles L and Q are so located that the wheels of a train approachingthe tower will engage the treadle'L before The result is that thecircuits are closed and the signals given; but the wheels engage thetreadle Q before they leave the treadle L. For this reason the rod N isyieldingly secured to the pressureblock. The end 4 of that rod isforked, as shown in Fig, 8, the prongs entering openings in the blockand sliding therein, the connection between the rod and block beingmaintained by the spring 5 A verticaleacting spring 6 supports the rodand throws it and the pressure-block back into place after the latterhasbeen depressed by the treadle L.

In Figs. 20, 23, and 24: is shown a different form of connection betweenthe pressureblock and the treadle Q. This is a fiat plate -R, of springmetal, one end being received in a slot in the block, as shown in Figs.20 and 23, sliding therein 'in the same manner as the prongs 4, (shownin Fig. 8,) the connection between the block and plate being maintainedby the spring 7., The center of the plate rests upon a support 8, andthe elasticity of the plate lifts the pressure-block after it has beendepressed, thus avoiding the use of the spring 6.

When a train approaches from the direc tion of the tower, it depressesthe treadle Q first and withdraws the pressure-block from over thekey-lever, preventing the closing of i the circuit. gages the conductor1 and closes the circuit 1 Opposite the tower or signal there is placeda third treadle S, the depression of which lifts the signal fromahorizontal position'to a vertical one and again throws it intoengagement with the lever-catch F. This mechanism is fully illustratedin Figs. 16, 17, and 19. Beneath the treadle is secured a bell-crank T,connected by a rod 14 with a similar crank 25, which changes thedirection of the force. The crank ,15 is connected with the signalboardE by the rod 9. A loop 10 on the end of the rod 9 engages the crank-pin11 at one side of the spindle 12 of the signal-board.

That the signal-board may drop quickly when released from the catch F,one of its heads is loaded at the side by weights 10. To

prevent strain upon the rod 9 by passing trains when the signal-board isin a vertical position, the center is made with a socketjoint WV, theparts of which are connected by a coiled spring 13. 7

Both signals may be operated by the same battery, as illustrated in Fig.25. In this case there is a post 16, erected to engage the horizontalportion of the lever F. A wire 15 connects the magnet of the bell withthe horizontal part of the lever, the wire 19 connects the lever with amagnet 20, a wire 17 connects the magnet 20 with the battery, and a wire18 connects the battery with the magnet of the bell again. In thisconstruction the dropping of the lever completes the circuit and causesthe bell to be sounded.- I

If necessary or preferable, but one of the signals-the gong orsignal-board need be used with the cut-off.

The treadles are depressed by circular projections 21, formed on each ofa pair of wheels of the locomotive-tender; or there may be specialwheels 22 affixed to the axle. It is essential that, with the relativelocation of the treadles as shown, both of the projections or specialwheels should be placed upon the same axle.

I do not confine myself to the shapes of the various cranks and leversas herein described and illustrated, but others may be substituted forthem. Thevarious ways of making connections may also be varied as mayseem desirable.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire tosecure by Letters Patent, is

1. The combination, with the key, of a treadle for operating said keyand a block through which the treadle acts upon the key, removablyinterposed between the key and treadle, substantially as specified.

2. The combination, with a key placed near the rail of a railway-track,of a treadle con-i structed to actuate the key through a pressure-block,the pressure block, and connections between the pressure-block and atreadle placed on the opposite side of the track, whereby the block canbe removed from between the key and treadle, substantially as specified.

3. The combination, with a key placed near the rail of a railway-track,of a treadle constructed to actuate. the key through a press lire-block,the pressure-block, a second treadle placed on the opposite side ofthetrack in position to be engaged by the wheels of acar before the firsttreadle is so engaged when the car approaches from one direction, andconnections between the pressure-block and the second treadle, wherebythat block can be removed from between the key and the first treadle,substantially as specified.

l. The combination, with a key placed near the rail of a railway-track,of a treadle L, constructed to actuate the key through a pressure-block,the pressure-block, a second treadle Q, placed on the opposite side ofthe track in position to be engaged by the wheels of a car before thetreadle L is so engaged when the car approaches from one direction andto remain in engagement until the treadle L is also engaged, andconnections between the pressure-block and the second treadle, wherebysaid block can be removed from between the key and the first treadle,substan tially as and for the purpose specified.

5. The combination, with the key and the treadle L, by which it isoperated, of the pressure-block, the treadle Q, and a connection betweenthe treadle Q and the pressureblock, said connection being yieldinglyattached to the pressure-block horizontally, substantially as and forthe purpose specified.

6. The combination, with the key and the treadle L, by which it isoperated, of the pressureblo ck, the treadle Q, and a (1 01111601 tionbetween the treadle Q, and the pressureureblock, and a pressure-blockremovably interposed between the treadle and key, substantially as andfor the purpose specified. 8. The combination, with signals connectedwith electric batteries, substantially as specified, of a key K, placednear a rail of the track, wires connecting the key and ground,conductors adapted to be engaged by said key, wires connecting theconductors and signals, a treadle placed near the rail and adapted toactuate said key through a pressure-block, the pressure block removablyinterposed between the treadle and key, and a gearing adapted to retardthe disengagement of the key from the conductors, substantially as andfor the purpose specified. l

9. The combination,with signals connected with electric batteries, of akey K, placed near a rail of the track and l1avingground-wires attachedthereto, conductors adapted to be engaged by said key, wires connectingthe IIO conductors and signals, a treadle L, placed near the rail andadapted to actuate said key by said block may be withdrawn frombethrough a pressure-block, a pressure-block tween the treadle L and thepressure-block, interposed between the key and the treedle substantiallyas and for the purpose specified. 10

L, a second treadle Q,1ocated on the opposite MILTON MONROE SOUDERS. 5side of the track and between the treadle L Witnesses:

and the signals, and a connection between JEREMIAH RIFE,

the treadle Q and the pressure-block, Where- WM. R. GERHART.

